Stackable wiring duct

ABSTRACT

A raceway made up of a plurality of raceway units for electrical wiring or the like which may be placed one on top of another to form a multiple raceway assembly. The raceway assembly provides separate raceway conduits for isolating different types of wiring. A joint structure is provided for holding the sections of the raceway firmly together. The joint structure is the form of grooves that receive cylindrical beads. The grooves have radii that are slightly greater than the radii of the cylindrical beads so that the beads snap into the grooves and thereby hold the raceway assembly together. The raceway may be cast from metal, extruded from plastic material or made from any other suitable material. The raceway sections may be easily added to or changed without disturbing the wiring in the other raceways.

United States Patent' Primary Examiner- Louis K. RimrodtAttorney-Charles L. Lovercheck ABSTRACT: A raceway made up of aplurality of raceway units for electrical wiring or the like which maybe placed one on top of another to form a multiple raceway assembly. Theraceway assembly provides separate raceway conduits for isolatingdifferent types of wiring. A joint structure is provided for holding thesections of the raceway rmly together. The joint structure is the formof grooves that receive cylindrical beads. The grooves have radii thatare slightly greater than the radii of the cylindrical beads so that thebeads snap into the grooves and thereby hold the raceway assemblytogether. The raceway may be cast from metal, extrudedy from plasticmaterial or made from `any other suitable material. The raceway sectionsmay be easily added to or changed without disturbing the wiring in theother raceways.

1` sTAcKABLi: wiiuNc DUCT STATEMENT OF INVENTION raceway assemblyprovides numerous sections for isolating different types of wiring.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide'araceway which is light in weight and strong and is composed vof partswhich can be assembled readily and will holdy together securely. It ispreferred that the parts be thus engaged by snap action withoutrequiring to be secured in assembled relation by separately actuatedfasteners.` l

Another object of the inventionis to provide a raceway assembly whichmay have an indefinite number of raceway sections for isolating powerand branch circuits'or the like.

Another object is to provide a raceway assembly which may be partiallydisassembled for the purpose of adding, changing, or removing wires fromone or more raceway sections without disturbing wires in any othersection. l

Another object is to provide a raceway assembly whereby wires may beintroduced into any section ofthe raceway from either side. y

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe invention is described in connection with the accompanying drawingsand more particularly pointed in the appended claims in which: f

FIG. l is an enlarged cross-sectionall view taken on line l-l of FIG. 2.

v FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a raceway section formed from joiningtwo parts of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an end view of a typical raceway assembly formed by joiningthree raceway sections and two covers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION oF DRAWINGS t Now with more `particular referencelto. the "drawings, a racewayassembly is shown made up of sections whichmay be moved about, put together in different combinations to providethe desired number o f racewayvunits. The raceway sections may be madeup of integral bodies leach having a bottom web 5 and sides 6 and 6'.The sides 6 and 6' are integrally attached to the bottom. j f j Thecover 4 has cylinders 11 and llintegrally attached to their edges by thestandoff sections 7 and 7'. The cylindrical beads 1 and l' are of aradius approximately equal to the radius of the cylindrical groove 2',2', I2, l2', 102, 102 112, 112' and the cylindrical grooves are slightlygreater in depth than the radius of its curvature so that the beads 1and 1'-snap into the groove and are held in place by the material. Thebeads 1 and l' are integrally fixed to the sides 6 and 6'. Thesectionson top of the sections just described are slightly smaller inscale and havera bottom web 115 integrally atselves in place. Repeatingthis procedure with each section. the final'results give a racewayassembly with three isolated wiring sections.

Access holes 8 and8 are located inboth sides of the base section so thatwires may be introduced into the raceway from either side.

The raceway may be disassembled toany extent by applying pressureV in anupward direction. lf only one side of the raceway is disengaged, theraceway will swivel to the phantom line position shown in FIG. 3 at theremaining joint giving access to the inside ofthe raceway for ease ofwiring.

' ln the description and claims, reference to bottom, top, sides and thelike are inconnection with the structure as `oriented in the drawing andsuch references are in no sense intended to limit the invention fromutilizing the raceways oriented to different positions.

It will be noted that the ends 108 of the sections extend out beyond thesides so that the resiliency ofthe material is amplified by theoverhanging ends in removing or inserting the beads'into the grooves.

l claim:

1.v A raceway made up of a plurality base sections and cover sections:

said base sections each having a web section and sides delining achannel of rectangular cross section for receiving wires and the like;

said sides terminating in a cylindrical bead; said beads being fixed tosaid sides generally parallel to the said sides;

said cover sections each having two spaced grooves in a first sidethereof; f

said grooves having a cross-sectional shape defining a cylindricalsurface'of approximately the same radius as said beads;

said grooves having a depth slightly greater than the radius of saidbead; and

said cover section being made of a resilient material whereby said beadsnaps into said groove and saidk bead is retained in said groove by thematerial of said cover extending around said bead beyond a plane passingthrough the center of said bead parallel to said cover.

2. The raceway recited in claim 1 wherein said base section has at leasttwo grooves in the outside surface:

a second base section similar to said first mentioned base section issupported adjacent said first mentioned base; and

said grooves in the outside of said tirst mentioned base sectionreceiving said beads on said second mentioned base section. A

3. The raceway recited in claim 2 wherein said grooves in the outside ofsaid base sections are formed in the lower side of sections including ofsaid web.

tached to sides 106 and 106' and cylindrical beads 101 and 101' areintegrally attached to thel upper ends of the sides 106 and 106". Thecovers A104 are integrally attached to the cylindrical beads lll andlll', and have grooves 112 and 112' which receive the cylindrical beads101 and 101'. Cylindrical beads ll and ll' are received in cylindricalgrooves 102 and 102'. The raceway sections may be. formed from plastic,metal, or any other suitable resilient material by means ofextruding,castings, or other operation' to create a two-piece section as shown. l

FIG. 3 shows a typical raceway assembly that may be built by using threebase sections and two cover portions. When one section is placed` onanother, pressure must be applied to the upper section in a downwarddirection so that the cylindrical beads will engage vin the concavegroove and lock them- 4. The raceway recited in claim l. wherein saidcover has cylindrical beads thereon:

a second base section; spaced longitudinal grooves in the outsidesurface of said second base section; Y said beads o n said cover beingreceived in said grooves in the outside of said second base section asecond cover;

said second cover having spaced grooves therein; beads on the upperedges of said second base section; and said beads on said second basesection being received in said grooves in said second cover. 5. Incombination a plurality of -first raceway sections and cover sections:

said raceway sections being in the form of channels having upwardlyextending edges; a cylindrical bead fixed to one said edge and extendingalong said edge; a groove in said cover adapted to receive said bead;and said 'groove being slightly deeper-than the radius of saidcylindrical bead. l

1. A raceway made up of a plurality of sections including base sectionsand cover sections: said base sections each having a web section andsides defining a channel of rectangular cross section for receivingwires and the like; said sides terminating in a cylindrical bead; saidbeads being fixed to said sides generally parallel to the said sides;said cover sections each having two spaced grooves in a first sidethereof; said grooves having a cross-sectional shape defining acylindrical surface of approximately the same radius as said beads; saidgrooves having a depth slightly greater than the radius of said bead;and said cover section being made of a resilient material whereby saidbead snaps into said groove and said bead is retained in said groove bythe material of said cover extending around said bead beyond a planepassing through the center of said bead parallel to said cover.
 2. Theraceway recited in claim 1 wherein said base section has at least twogrooves in the outside surface: a second base section similar to saidfirst mentioned base section is supported adjacent said first mentionedbase; and said grooves in the outside of said first mentioned basesection receiving said beads on said second mentioned base section. 3.The raceway recited in claim 2 wherein said grooves in the outside ofsaid base sections are formed in the lower side of said web.
 4. Theraceway recited in claim 1 wherein said cover has cylindrical beadsthereon: a second base section; spaced longitudinal grooves in theoutside surface of said second base section; said beads on said coverbeing received in said grooves in the outside of said second basesection, a second cover; said second cover having spaced groovestherein; beads on the upper edges of said second base section; and saidbeads on said second base section being received in said grooves in saidsecond cover.
 5. In combinatiOn a plurality of first raceway sectionsand cover sections: said raceway sections being in the form of channelshaving upwardly extending edges; a cylindrical bead fixed to one saidedge and extending along said edge; a groove in said cover adapted toreceive said bead; and said groove being slightly deeper than the radiusof said cylindrical bead.